Preserving and Protecting Evidence in a Car Accident Case
In the event that the insurance company is disputing responsibility, there may be a significant gap between their offer and your actual injuries. This is especially true if the insurance company is blaming something other than negligence as the reason for the accident.
During this time your team will request for information from the opposing party through interrogatories and depositions. These questions will be posed to witnesses, witnesses, the other driver and others.
Preserving Evidence
In a car accident case the evidence you possess can significantly increase the chances of obtaining an award and recovering damages. This is why it's crucial to preserve and protect every piece of evidence following a crash.
It's now more simple than ever before to do this, thanks to the advancements in technology. You can use your smartphone to take high-quality photos and videos of the scene. Making use of these tools will help capture important evidence that may otherwise be lost or destroyed.
The most critical pieces of evidence include the actual accident scene and any witnesses. auto accident attorneys lakewood should try to capture the scene of the accident immediately following the collision. This includes all vehicles involved in a collision or any skidmarks left on the road, weather conditions, traffic signs, and other important factors.
You may also want to contact local businesses and asking them to save any evidence that could be relevant to your case. If you were struck by a truck and requested that its black box be preserved it could be useful in your case.
If you suspect that the driver who caused the accident was under the influence of drugs or negligent, requesting their drug tests could also be helpful in your case. These tests could reveal that the driver was intoxicated or distracted and could be a strong indicator of their negligence for causing an accident.
Documenting your injuries
When it comes to personal injury cases documentation is crucial. This will not only guarantee that your healthcare provider knows about your condition as well as help your lawyer demonstrate your damages and losses when filing a claim for negligence against the responsible party.
Medical records are one of the most essential types of documents. When you visit your doctor for treatment following an accident, you should be provided with copies of each document. These records will be official documentation of your injuries, symptoms, and diagnoses. These records will also document any costs you incur as a result of your accident. This is crucial since a large portion of these expenses could be refunded as part your compensation claim.
Keep a log of your physical and mental state after the accident. This should include any pain you feel, what parts of your body are affected, and the exact time that pain occurs. Additionally, if you are suffering from any mental trauma, it is crucial to document this also, since juries frequently decide to award non-economic damages in the same type of pain.
It is also beneficial to take photographs of your injuries and the scene of the accident if you can. This can include photos of your car, any other vehicles involved in the crash, as well as any damage that may have been caused to other objects (such as signs or buildings). It is recommended that you take several images of each item from various angles and distances so that the investigators can clearly see the accident's cause.
Collecting witness statements
In the ideal situation, witness statements should be collected as soon as possible after an accident. It's important to keep in mind that people's memories fade over time, so it's best to request witnesses to give their statements as soon as they can. The more detailed the statement, the better. It's also recommended that any interview with a witness is recorded (with their permission, of course) as this can assist in ensuring a precise report of what they witnessed.
It's also worthwhile to search for witnesses outside the immediate vicinity of your accident. You might ask local business owners if anyone witnessed your accident. This could lead to footage of your crash appearing on a store's security camera that could prove useful in your situation.
You should also make sure that any statements made by potential witnesses do not include thoughts, feelings or speculations about the result of the accident, or sentimental feelings towards the other victims involved. These statements could be detrimental to your credibility, especially if they're contradicted by another witness. Avoid asking anyone who is familiar with the person responsible for your injuries, or who works for their employer, to provide evidence. They may attempt to attempt to influence your claim on behalf of the company they represent. If this is the case, you might not be able to get the compensation you require.
Contacting an attorney
Check if an attorney is able to conduct an exhaustive investigation into the accident. This could include visiting the crash site, interviewing witnesses and gathering other documentation about the accident and your injuries.
After your attorney has reviewed all the evidence they can find, they'll begin a settlement negotiation process with the insurance company of the driver at fault. This is done to ensure that you get an appropriate settlement without the need for an appeal. Your attorney could bargain with the insurance company multiple times before coming to an agreement.
The severity of your injuries will play a crucial influence on the amount of compensation you receive. A serious injury can result in more expensive medical bills and long-lasting effects, which require more intensive care. For example, some car accident victims may require surgery to repair the long-term damage caused by an injury. These expenses will be reflected in the total amount of your economic damages.
Your attorney will also take into consideration the future medical requirements of you and the lower quality of life your injuries have caused. If you sustained permanent injuries in an accident that required you to remodel your home in order to be able to access all parts of it, you can include the cost of this in your non-economic damage.